Implementing a 4 mA to 20 mA Current Loop on TI DSPs

Use of 4-mA to 20-mA (4-20 mA) current loops has become the standard in the process-control industry due to their increased resistance to noise compared to voltage-modulated signals. TI digital signal processors (DSPs) increasingly are becoming the standard for microcontrollers in a control application. Therefore, an opportunity exists to connect the many sensors and electromechanical devices on the market with a current loop, using microcontrollers to translate the signals. Using TI DSPs and Burr-Brown devices, an example illustrates applications that combine these two technologies to create a complete current-loop solution.